20. Affliction Is Purification

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Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church

Adult Sunday School

15 July 2018

AFFLICATION IS PURIFICATION

Zechariah 13:1-9 (KJV)

1In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. 2And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. 3And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. 4And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: 5But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. 6And one shall say unto him, Whatare these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. 7Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 8And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 9And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. (Zech. 13:1-9 KJV)

  • TOTAL CLEANSING OF THE LAND 

1In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. 2And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. 3And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. 4And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: 5But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. 6And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

 12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Heb. 9:12-15 KJV)

“In that day a cleansing fountain will open in Jerusalem.” 

In that day of Christ’s return, a fountain will be opened for cleansing and forgiveness of sin and impurity for the house of David and the inhabitations of Jerusalem (v 1). The shed blood of Christ on the cross is sufficient for our cleansing if only we will appropriate it. There will also be a total purging of idols and of the false prophets in the land (v 2). The people will be so committed that if their own children should prophesy falsely, they will cast the first stone (v 3). This was in fact Moses’ teaching to Israel before they entered the Promised Land. But Israel failed to practise it. They were enticed by their own lust to the idolatry and immorality in the land leading to three thousand years of judgment from God. The false prophets will shun prophesying for fear of being shamed, they will practically change trade to become farmers. However, there will be tell- tale signs of their previous occupation (v 4-6). 

The Charismatic, Signs and Wonders Movements will cease in the land. Today, it is impossible to stop the mouth of the false prophets, the movement toward that one apostate church continues unabated. Their influence is so great. How then do we identify the false prophet? Jesus gave the answer in Matthew 7:15-20, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” 

When the true Shepherd rules the land, all false shepherds will have to disappear. Until then, may the Lord grant to us spiritual discernment by checking all teachings we receive against God’s infallible and preserved words. 

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins. Thank You, Lord, for every remembrance of Your sacrifice. 

  • AFFLICTION IS PURIFICATION 

7Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 8And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 9And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

31Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.(Matt. 26:31-32 KJV)

“Smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.” 

The voice of the Lord sounded suddenly, driving the account of the false prophets from our minds. It was the voice of the Lord, summoning a sword to strike the good Shepherd, Companion (Fellow meaning Equal) of our Lord. The first word of the Lord in the Hebrew text is “Sword,” commanded to inflict physical harm upon the Shepherd. This was the Son of God who was smitten by the sword of the Father (Isa 53:10). Is this a description of judgment upon the Jews for rejecting their Messiah? For with the Shepherd out of the way, the flock will then automatically scatter. It is a description of the complete cleansing of sin by the Son of God at His crucifixion in His First Advent (v 7). 

The Jews were a rebellious lot, but there is a faithful remnant. The majority rejected their Messiah resulting in the nation of Israel being scattered in A.D. 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem. The remnant will be preserved and remembered through the Church age, the times of the Gentiles. The scene moves now to the Jewish remnant at His Second Coming (v 8- 9). This “little flock” has suffered much through the refining fire of the centuries of tribulation, yet when they have been refined, they shall come forth as tried gold. Two thirds will be destroyed and only a third remains. The surviving Jews at the Second Coming of Christ look upon their Messiah in repentance at His return. The trials in a Christian’s life seem to grow more intense as he matures in the faith. Take heart, the refining fire of the Lord will purify and remove all dross of sin as He moulds us in His image. This is God’s way of purification, Jesus sets for us the example in His sufferings. May we in every affliction call upon Him, casting all our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. Jesus will be pleased to say at His Second Coming, “It is my people.” And the faithful shall respond, “The LORD is my God.” 

 “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him.” (Job 13:15) Lord, grant me patience and steadfastness in every trial.